Jun 24, 2004 — The 47 locks and 18 dams of the Rideau Canal are a giant draw for boaters and tourists in the summer months. The system connects Montreal with Kingston, Ontario via Ottawa. The British built the canal after the War of 1812 to allow boats to travel inland rather than risking a potentially dangerous transit along the border waters of the St. Lawrence River. The project was the largest of its kind in the British Empire at the time, and mostly Irish immigrants worked on it. Hundreds died. On Sunday in Ottawa, Canadian officials will unveil a Celtic Cross memorial in honor of the fallen canal workers. David Sommerstein spoke with Ken Clavette, a member of the Rideau Canal Celtic Cross Committee. He says it's hard to pin down how many people died building the canal system.  Go to full article

Jun 09, 2004 — Every community has its own cultural landmarks -- from diners to lone pine trees -- now North Country folklorists want to hear about them. Martha Foley talks with Jill Breit about Traditional Arts in Upstate New York's Registry of Very Special Places.  Go to full article

May 03, 2004 — Folksinger and activist Pete Seeger is 85 today--a lot of years and a lot of music and dedication to causes near and far. Adirondack folksinger Dan Berggren has this tribute.  Go to full article

Dec 19, 2003 — Tonight is the first night of the Jewish holiday Chanukah. We start celebrations a little early this year by cooking latkes, Chanukah's most typical food. NCPR's Ellen Rocco and Martha Foley make them live in the NCPR kitchen.

Potato Latke Recipe:

8 lg. potatoes (Idaho baking potatoes not recommended)
2 eggs
1 lg. onion
2 tsp. salt
2 T flour
pepper to taste
lots of cooking oil

Grate potatoes; mince onion (finely or coarsely, depending on preference). Add egg, salt, pepper, and flour. Drain mixture to remove water. Fry in hot oil until crisp on edges. Drain on paper towels or eat right away!  Go to full article

Dec 12, 2003 — The State Museum in Albany will return a more than 200 year-old wampum belt to the Akwesasne Mohawks. The Board of Regents, which oversees the museum, approved the move yesterday. The artifact may document a founding moment in the history of the Mohawk community that straddles the international border near Massena. David Sommerstein has details.  Go to full article

Dec 09, 2003 — It's surprising, sometimes, the people you get to meet. This month, the staff at North Country Public Radio, and lots of others in the region, have gotten acquainted with Nazeera Djakylbekova. And she's gotten to know us a little. Nazeera is from Kyrgyzstan, and she's in the states to learn about how we do radio - public radio.  Go to full article

Oct 22, 2003 — Folklorists from across the state will gather in Sackets Harbor for their fall meeting this weekend. Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, TAUNY, will host the conference which will focus on cultural landmarking and conservation. Executive Director Varick Chittenden says TAUNY will showcase its Very Special Places project at the gathering.  Go to full article

Jul 04, 2003 — Summer in the North Country means field day festivals for virtually every town and hamlet. It's tough to keep up with all the chicken barbeques, fire engine parades, and lawn mower races. But for the automotive lovers, nothing beats the demolition derby. Hundreds of drivers sign up each summer for the chance to crash their rides into one another. David Sommerstein went to the demolition derby in Hannawa Falls to hear the roar of the engines and the crunch of metal.  Go to full article

Apr 11, 2003 — Yesterday's warm temperatures induced a late run of sap in the maple trees of northern New York and Vermont. The second run may save a strange season that maple syrup producers feared was going to be a disaster. But as David Sommerstein reports, tappers further South weren't so lucky.  Go to full article

Dec 20, 2002 — Walt Disney opened his first theme park in the summer of 1955. But half a decade before Disneyland, there was Santa's Workshop in Wilmington ? the creation of north country native Arto Monaco. Monaco built a half-dozen theme parks. Most are gone now, swept away by changing tastes. But Monaco himself is still around, still creating make-believe worlds. Brian Mann visited his workshop in Upper Jay and has our story.  Go to full article